The San Diego Padres' ongoing quest for a World Series (or at least a playoff title). "You know that many runners enter a race, but only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever." 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Trevor Time is really over…

Man, I just can’t wrap my mind around the fact that he’s really gone. I thought about him all day yesterday, remembering all the times he had with us. I think I’m sort of in a bit of denial right now. I don’t think it’s really going to sink in until I see him in that other uniform, not until we get to Spring Training and Heath Bell comes into the 9th the save the game. I must admit, it will be pretty exciting to see Heath is his new role. But I might just cry when I see him save a game for the first time.

I know it might seem like I’m overreacting a bit here, but I think some of you understand. I think all of us have lost a very special player at one point or another. Trevor’s been here for 15 years, and he’s a part of San Diego. It’s almost like having a close family member move away, it really is. I know I shouldn’t be this upset, but I also know that I have every right to be. And when you think of all the things he’s done for this organization, the things that are going to have to change, it’s devistating. So I’m trying not to think about it too deeply because it hurts to much, it’s too terrible to dwell on for too long. This guy has been the face of the organization for years. Suddenly, he’s gone. I’m just pretty drained. I don’t want to think about it. This is a pain that’s not going away for a long time. But the thing is, I will get better. I will eventually get over this. Life goes on. Trevor will have a wonderful year with the Brewers. And he will go into the Hall of Fame as a Padre. I do have a slight tiny hope, though. Trevor’s new contract is for only a year. Maybe he can come back to the Padres in 2010. It’s a long shot, I know. But it’s hope. I’m not giving up.

Baseball is just a game, I know. But Trevor was special. He was so much more than just a player on the field. He and his family were heavily involved in the community. They are ingrained here in San Diego. Trevor’s wife, Tracy, is running a children’s gym. Their three boys have been here their entire lives. They grew up in the Padres’ clubhouse. They have all their friends here, their entire lives are here. It’s sad. But once Trevor retires, his family will be living here.

That deal is currently being organized and may come to fruition by the start of Spring Training. That means next offseason, when Hoffman is a free agent again, the club’s finances might be different.

But at this point, Hoffman said he can’t conceive of going back.

“I just can’t see that,” he said. “I think once Heath Bell gets settled into the closer’s role, they’ll be comfortable with that. They could have handled my situation a lot better. There could have been a meeting of the minds. They could’ve said they were just going younger, which is their right. Really, we all could have handled it a lot better. We could have walked away feeling a lot more respect for each other. I just don’t think a deal there was to be had. And I’m fine with it. I just think it was time to move on.

“Now there’s just the backlash that I took the money and ran. [People] are having a lot of fun with it right now. It’s not real pretty. I’m getting a lot of calls. But it was fun. It was a good run. Shoot, 16 years, I can’t squawk about it. Not many players get to stay with a club for 16 years. I was pretty lucky.”

I feel for you! Seeing your favorite players go elsewhere is probably the toughest part of being a baseball fan. It’ll break your heart. But, there’s nothing like finding new love to help you move on. Hopefully, Bell will be your guy!

I’m so sorry Kaybee,
You have every right to be upset. Even though at the end of the day baseball is “just a game” I will always see it more than that. It’s a passion. Hoffman was a Padre, and he will always be a Padre no matter what.
-Elizabethhttp://redsoxgirl46.mlblogs.com

All day I’m thinking, “Man, it’s official. Trevor is gone.” I’m freaking mad that he left. There are so many reasons why our front office is just plain stupid. They gave away the ALL-TIME saves leader. Heck even a five year old kid knows that that is not the right thing to do! When Heath Bell comes out in the ninth inning, will it be “Heath Time!”? Oh man, that sounds so strange! I’m sorry, but even Heath Bell shouldn’t use “Hell’s Bells”. Trevor is a great guy. I can’t believe I’m saying this but.. good bye Trevor. Thanks for the great memories and histories. Let’s just watch, Kaybee, he’s going to do so good with the Brewers. And when he retires, he is going to the Hall of Fame, as a Padre. Man, I can’t get that Trevor thing out of my head!

That is definetely a long time for one player on one team. It’ll be tough, but watch by two months in you will be watching Heath and hopefully he’s closing the door on opponents and you’ll feel better!
tomhttp://rockymountainway.mlblogs.com

We’ve all been through it-today’s game is structured that it’s very rare to see our heroes walk away from the sport having only one address. Sad, but true.
Out of respect, I’ll have lots of Trevor pics and stories for you as the ’09 season rolls along…

Elizabeth is totally right. You and I need to get hired by the Padres! We can change the problems starting from the top. And that way I don’t have to go to school anymore! Haha. Just kidding about that one :) Oh, I still can’t get over with it.. It’s stuck now. That was the most terrible Padres news I have ever heard. On the good side, Spring Training is getting closer. Yay! But I’m not sure if that’s going to distract me or not. Bring me along to a vacation to Milwaukee. And maybe I’ll even go to St. Louis to see Khalil! If Trevor returns to San Diego in 2010, I would yell “Whoo-hoo!” all day! Of course, it’s going to take some work to bring him back.http://hyunyoung.mlblogs.com

It’s impossible to imagine Trevor not as a Padre, even though all I’ve seen of him are some clips in the 1998 postseason highlights. I associate him with the Padres and the Padres with him.
Also, Bigpapi72: He’s definitely going to go into the Hall as a Padre. You don’t get the most saves in MLB history with one team and not get in the Hall with that team. It makes no sense.

Kaybee – I’m really sorry you guys lost Trevor. I guess the bright side is that he didn’t go to the Dodgers.

In other news, I read on Friar John’s blog that Adrian Gonzalez is swinging a hot bat right now in the Mexican Pacific League. He’s hitting .333 with 6 RBI’s in the last 5 games. Hopefully that will cheer you up a little.

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